vrcanaries Chapter 121 Endless
Chapter 121 Endless
Chapter 121 Endless
The chaos in Gotham was like an out-of-control plague, spreading to every corner of the city.
For three consecutive days, the city did not experience any real peace.
The sounds of sirens, explosions, and screams from citizens intertwined to form an impenetrable net, engulfing everyone within it.
Li Wei had been working non-stop, and his body had already reached its limit.
His eyes were bloodshot, and stubble was growing on his chin.
Their police uniforms were covered in dust, sweat, and dried blood, yet they didn't even have time to catch their breath.
During the day, the police station is like an overloaded machine, with the air filled with the smells of disinfectant, coffee, and anxiety.
On the screen in the dispatch room, the green dots representing fugitives were still dense, but compared to the initial frenzy, they were now more scattered.
Li Wei sat at his desk piled high with files, his fingertips tracing over photos and documents of fugitives, his eyes tired yet still sharp.
Of the 27 serious criminals who escaped from Arkham, only nine have been captured or killed so far.
The remaining eighteen people are still at large, including highly dangerous criminals such as Two-Face and Poison Ivy.
They created trouble throughout Gotham, further complicating the already fragile order.
"Advisor Li Wei, news has come from the South District that a group of criminals have taken over the warehouse at the docks."
They hijacked three cargo ships and demanded $10 million and a helicopter from the police.
Otherwise, we'll blow up the cargo ship; there are over twenty crew members on board!
A young police officer rushed in, his face full of anxiety, and handed over an emergency report.
Li Wei rubbed his throbbing temples, took the report and quickly glanced through it, his brows furrowing into a deep knot.
These people are always cunning and adept at using terrain and hostages to their advantage.
The dock's complex terrain and numerous warehouses make it difficult for the police to launch a raid, and if handled improperly, the consequences could be disastrous.
"Notify the Southern District police officers to immediately block off the roads around the pier, evacuate nearby residents, and refrain from launching any attacks; try to delay the situation as much as possible."
Li Wei's voice was hoarse, yet still steady.
"I immediately contacted Batman to ask him to provide air support, while we coordinated from the ground to form a pincer attack."
Additionally, they contacted the finance department, feigning an agreement to provide funding, in order to buy Batman an opportunity for a surprise attack.
"yes!"
The officer immediately turned and left, his steps hurried.
Li Wei picked up the walkie-talkie, pressed the encrypted channel, and heard Batman's intermittent breathing, clearly indicating that he was also in the midst of a high-intensity battle.
"Batman, a group of criminals have hijacked a cargo ship at the docks, taking more than 20 hostages. Requesting backup."
"receive."
Batman's voice was hoarse, like sandpaper scraping, and clearly tired.
"We will arrive in ten minutes."
After hanging up the walkie-talkie, Li Wei stood up and stretched his stiff neck and sore shoulders.
The coffee on the table had long since gone cold, but he picked it up and took a big gulp.
The bitter taste stimulated my taste buds, clearing my muddled mind somewhat.
Among the pile of files, a photo of a two-faced person stands out.
Harvey Dent's face is half handsome features and half grotesque burn scars.
He clutched a coin tightly in his hand, his eyes filled with a fanatical and crazed look.
Li Wei knew that the two-faced man was one of the most troublesome fugitives at present.
His actions were completely erratic, determined entirely by the outcome of a coin toss, and were highly inflammatory.
Many street thugs have joined him, increasing his power.
After dealing with an emergency involving a group of criminals, Li Wei then immersed himself in organizing the fugitive files.
He meticulously analyzed each fugitive's modus operandi, usual hiding places, and interpersonal relationships.
He marked the key monitoring areas and then shared the information with officers in each district.
The phone on the table rang incessantly—some were asking for help, some were reporting situations, and some were requesting assistance.
Li Wei patiently responded to each question, directing the remaining police force.
After several days of fighting, the police station has suffered heavy casualties, and its originally sufficient police force is now reduced to less than half.
Everyone, like Li Wei, was working overtime, their eyes filled with exhaustion, but no one backed down.
As evening fell, the last rays of the setting sun streamed through the police station windows, casting an eerie warm hue over the scarred city.
Li Wei finally managed to spare a little time to lean back in his chair and close his eyes to rest.
Just as I was about to fall asleep, a series of urgent shouts suddenly came from the walkie-talkie.
"Advisor Li Wei! Fierce fighting has broken out near the downtown courthouse!"
It's Two-Face! He and his henchmen attacked the courthouse and are currently engaged in a fierce battle with Batman!
Li Wei suddenly opened his eyes, instantly becoming fully awake. He grabbed his pistol and coat and rushed outside.
The courthouse is a symbol of justice in Gotham, and Two-Face's choice to act there was clearly a deliberate provocation, an attempt to completely erode the public's trust in order.
He drove the police car at breakneck speed, the streets along the way still a mess.
The shards of broken glass gleamed coldly in the setting sun, puncturing the tires of several abandoned vehicles.
The overturned trash can was burning with a small fire, and wisps of black smoke rose up, making people's throats feel tight.
The charred skeleton of the building stood menacingly, bullet holes in the walls like countless empty eyes watching the chaos.
The citizens on the street had different expressions; some carried bags and pulled their families along, running wildly toward the edge of the city.
Their faces were filled with panic, and they kept muttering "Get out of here."
Some people hid behind the shop's roller shutter, only their fearful eyes peeking out as they secretly observed the commotion outside.
Several elderly people sat on the steps in front of their homes, looking at the devastated streets with eyes full of despair and helplessness.
Their homes had already been destroyed by the fugitives, and they had no strength left to escape; they could only resign themselves to fate.
The closer they got to the courthouse, the more intense the gunfire became, interspersed with Two-Face's signature screams.
A young mother, holding her young child, huddled behind a trash can on a street corner.
The child cried loudly in fright, and the mother covered the child's mouth tightly, tears streaming down her cheeks, her body trembling uncontrollably.
Several young people were holding up their phones to take pictures, their faces showing a morbid excitement.
They shouted, "It's fighting! Take pictures!" completely ignoring the bullets whizzing past them.
Another office worker in a suit had his briefcase fall to the ground.
The documents were scattered all over the floor, but he didn't bother to pick them up.
He ran like a madman in the direction away from the battlefield, completely unaware that he had lost a leather shoe.
Upon arriving at the scene, Li Wei saw that the battle in the square in front of the court had reached a fever pitch.
The two-faced man wore a tattered trench coat, and the scars on his face looked particularly grotesque in the setting sun.
He was holding a pistol and a steel pipe, surrounded by a dozen henchmen, who were attacking Batman relentlessly.
Batman's black cape was torn in several places, revealing bleeding wounds underneath.
His movements were slower than before, clearly indicating that he had exhausted a great deal of energy.
He continued to resist stubbornly, each punch carrying a resolute force.
"Batman! You hypocrite! What do you think you can protect?"
Two-Face roared and swung his steel pipe toward Batman's chest.
"Gotham doesn't need justice, it just needs judgment! The two sides of the coin are the only truth!"
Batman dodged to the side, the steel pipe slammed into the ground, sending sparks flying.
He raised his hand and threw a batarang, which struck Two-Face's wrist precisely.
The two-faced man was in pain, and his pistol fell to the ground.
Batman seized the opportunity to rush forward and punch Two-Face in the face. Two-Face staggered back a few steps, a more maniacal smile spreading across his face.
"Well done! Let's do it again!"
The two-faced man wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, took a coin from his pocket, tossed it into the air, and then caught it.
He glanced at the coin, his eyes hardening even more.
"Head-on! You must die here today!"
He charged at Batman with astonishing speed, delivering a powerful punch to Batman's ribs.
With a sharp "snap," Li Wei's heart sank.
He clearly saw Batman's body tense up instantly, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, indicating that his ribs had been broken.
Batman staggered back a few steps, leaned against a lamppost, and coughed violently.
Each cough aggravated his injured ribs, causing him to tremble with pain.
But he showed no intention of retreating. He slowly straightened up, clenched his fists, and charged at the two-faced man again.
There was no fear in his eyes, only an almost obsessive steadfastness.
That was his promise to Gotham, the bottom line he would never abandon.
"Batman! Are you crazy?! You've broken your ribs!"
Li Wei couldn't help but shout, wanting to rush up to help, but was stopped by several of the two-faced men's henchmen, and could only fight while anxiously watching.
Just then, a red figure rushed over quickly.
He moved swiftly, like a nimble little bird; it was Robin.
Holding a short stick, he charged at Two-Face without a word, wanting to help Batman.
"Batman! I'm here to help you!"
However, when Batman saw Robin charging towards him, he suddenly yelled, "Get out of my way!"
He suddenly reached out and shoved Robin away.
Caught off guard, Robin slammed heavily against the wall behind him with a thud.
A sharp pain shot through his shoulder, and he stumbled and fell to the ground, his eyes filled with grievance and confusion.
He looked at Batman, his lips trembling.
"Batman, I just wanted to help you..."
Batman didn't look at him, but stared intently at Two-Face, his tone icy.
"It's dangerous here, let's go!"
Taking advantage of the situation, Li Wei dealt with several of his men and rushed to Robin's side, helping him up.
I checked his shoulder and thankfully it was just a minor bruise, no fractures.
Don't blame him.
Li Wei said in a low voice, his voice carrying a hint of weariness and understanding.
"He just didn't want you to get hurt. Gotham's darkness is too heavy, and he's used to carrying it all alone."
This is his bottom line, and also his obsession.
Let him go. Our best help is to stay here and protect the surrounding citizens.
Robin glared at Li Wei, the hurt in her eyes still lingering, but she knew Li Wei was telling the truth.
He gritted his teeth, wiped the dust from the corner of his mouth, picked up the short stick, and nodded.
"I see."
After saying that, he turned and rushed toward the police officers who were evacuating citizens, joining the defensive line.
The citizens in the square were terrified. Some lay on the ground, too scared to move, while others tried to escape by helping each other, but were stopped by the two-faced man's men.
Robin and the police officers formed a human wall, fending off the attacks while guiding citizens to evacuate to a safe area.
An elderly woman had difficulty walking, and without saying a word, Robin carried her on his back and rushed towards the safe zone.
The old woman gripped his clothes tightly, repeatedly saying, "Thank you, thank you, young man."
Several children got separated from their parents and cried in fear. Robin asked an officer to take care of them while he continued to fight.
Looking at Robin's retreating figure, Li Wei felt a sense of relief, then turned his attention back to the battle between Batman and Two-Face.
Batman's condition is deteriorating; the injury to his ribs makes him move more slowly, and he has several new wounds on his body.
Blood soaked through his black battle suit, yet he did not retreat a single step.
He was like a tenacious fortress, holding his ground even though he was already riddled with holes.
Two-Face clearly noticed Batman's weakness and intensified his attacks, aiming each strike at Batman's wounds.
"Give up, Batman! You can't take it anymore!"
Two-Face laughed maniacally and punched Batman in the back.
Batman grunted, stumbled forward a few steps, and almost fell.
Li Wei knew he couldn't wait any longer.
He looked around and saw a fire hydrant next to the square, and immediately had an idea.
He rushed over quickly and forcefully opened the valve of the fire hydrant, and high-pressure water gushed out instantly.
He adjusted the direction of the water flow and rushed towards the two-faced man.
The water flow was extremely powerful, and the two-faced man was caught off guard and was hit squarely by the current.
He instantly lost his balance and fell to the ground.
Batman seized the opportunity, endured the excruciating pain, rushed forward, pinned Two-Face to the ground, and took out specially made handcuffs to firmly restrain him.
The two-faced man struggled and screamed madly.
"Let me go! This isn't a fair judgment! I want to flip the coin again! Just one more time!"
Batman ignored him, simply standing up slowly and stumbling slightly.
He grabbed the lamppost beside him and coughed violently, more and more blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.
Li Wei turned off the fire hydrant, walked quickly over, and tried to help him up.
"Batman, are you alright? I'll take you back for treatment."
Batman pushed his hand away, shook his head, and said in a hoarse voice.
"No need. The criminals over there at the docks... the docks..."
"I've already made arrangements over there. The police are stalling for time. You need immediate treatment given your current condition."
Li Wei's tone was somewhat harsh, "Your ribs are broken. If this continues, you'll die."
Batman didn't respond, but just gave Li Wei a deep look.
Then he turned around and staggered into the darkness.
His silhouette was lonely and resolute, his black cloak fluttering in the night wind like a wounded bat that still stubbornly flew towards its battlefield.
As the citizens along the way saw Batman's departing figure, some showed expressions of gratitude, while others remained filled with fear.
No one dared to approach him; they simply made way for him in silence.
Li Wei watched his figure disappear into the darkness, and a heavy sense of powerlessness welled up in his heart.
He knew that Batman would not stop. As long as Gotham was in danger and as long as there were citizens who needed protection, he would continue to fight, even if it meant being shattered to pieces.
The chaos continued for the next two days.
But with the coordination of Levi and the police, and the assistance of Batman and Robin, the situation gradually came under control.
More fugitives were captured, and citizens began clearing rubble from the streets of Gotham.
A young couple with their child, carrying a broom and a garbage bag.
They silently cleaned up the broken glass and debris in front of their house. The child held a wildflower in his hand and stuck it in a crack by the roadside, as if planting a glimmer of hope in the darkness.
Several college students spontaneously organized themselves and set up a temporary aid station on the street.
Provide basic medical assistance to injured citizens and distribute food and water to the homeless.
Some shop owners opened their doors to provide temporary shelter for evacuated citizens, their faces showing tired but determined smiles.
Li Wei continued working non-stop, spending his days at the police station organizing files and coordinating police resources.
At night, he would change into a black bodysuit and lurk on the streets, secretly assisting Batman and Robin in hunting down fugitives.
He knew every alley and corner of Gotham well, using the terrain to mark the locations of fugitives for Batman.
He eliminated the enemies lurking in the shadows, provided necessary support, and became the most reliable bulwark in the darkness.
He watched Robin gradually mature, from his initial impulsiveness and recklessness to becoming more and more composed.
Robin learned to match Batman's rhythm and understood how to effectively fight enemies while protecting himself.
The two worked together more and more seamlessly, becoming the two brightest figures in the Gotham night sky.
During a chase for Poison Ivy's henchmen, Robin cleverly used the terrain to lure several fugitives into a dead end.
Then, together with Batman, they subdued him, and the surrounding citizens couldn't help but applaud. The applause was weak but firm, as if they were cheering them on.
Late on the third night, Gotham finally saw a rare moment of peace.
The sirens gradually subsided, leaving only scattered lights on the streets and the weary figures of citizens clearing away the rubble.
Li Wei, who was hiding on the roof of an abandoned building in the city center, looked down at the streets that were gradually returning to order and breathed a long sigh of relief.
Exhaustion washed over him like a tidal wave, making him almost unable to stand.
Just then, a black figure slowly appeared on the rooftop not far away; it was Batman.
He leaned against the railing, his body swaying slightly, clearly having exhausted all his strength.
Li Wei quietly walked over, without saying a word, and simply stood quietly beside him, accompanying him as he looked down at the scarred city.
The moonlight shone on Batman, illuminating his scarred hands.
Those hands were rough and hard, covered with calluses and new wounds, some of which were still bleeding, the dried blood forming black scabs.
His hood hung low, obscuring most of his face, but Li Wei could still see his taut jawline and pale lips, and feel his heavy, rapid breathing.
Batman gripped a batarang tightly in his hand, his knuckles turning white from the force.
The batarang was worn and sharp, with a trace of dried blood on it, clearly indicating that it had accompanied him through countless battles.
On the street below, several citizens returning home late walked hand in hand.
Their steps were slow but steady as they spoke in hushed tones, their voices filled with the relief of surviving a disaster.
A 24-hour convenience store was still lit up, and the owner was dozing off at the counter.
Although the sign at the entrance was a little crooked, it still emitted a warm glow in the darkness.
Several police officers were patrolling in the distance, their steps steady, the beams of their flashlights sweeping across the street, as if they were guarding this hard-won peace.
Looking at Batman, Li Wei felt utterly powerless.
He can provide clues, mobilize police forces, and provide covert assistance.
But they couldn't share his physical pain, nor could they bear the heavy responsibility of protecting Gotham.
Batman is like a lonely lighthouse, guiding Gotham through the darkness, yet also enduring the erosion of storms alone.
No one can truly understand the loneliness and pain in his heart, and no one can bear this burden for him.
"There are...three more fugitives."
Batman suddenly spoke, his voice so hoarse it was almost inaudible.
"Poison Ivy, Scarecrow... and one more."
"I know."
Li Wei responded softly.
"Poison Ivy is hiding in the botanical garden, and Scarecrow may be in the Blackwater Marsh on the outskirts."
The last one is the Mad Hatter; we're investigating his hideout.
"Don't rush, we can take it slowly."
Batman didn't speak, but slowly raised his head and looked at the Gotham night sky.
The night sky remained pitch black, with only a few faint stars twinkling, like the last vestiges of hope for this city.
His body trembled slightly, clearly tormented by the pain of his wounds, but he still straightened his spine without flinching.
Li Wei knew that Batman wouldn't "take it slow".
He will immediately throw himself into the new battle until all the fugitives are captured and Gotham is completely calm again.
This is his mission, and also his inescapable destiny.
You need to rest.
Li Wei couldn't help but say, his tone tinged with worry.
"Your body can't take it anymore. If this continues, you'll collapse."
Gotham needs you, but it also needs you to live.
Batman turned his head, his eyes deep and complex beneath his hood, as if he were pondering something.
After a long while, he slowly released his grip on the batarang, which fell to the ground on the rooftop with a crisp sound.
He did not respond to Li Wei's words, but looked down at the city again, his eyes still full of determination.
Just then, Li Wei's walkie-talkie suddenly rang. It was Robin's voice, tinged with urgency.
"Advisor Levi, Batman, news from the Botanical Garden."
Poison Ivy unleashed a massive attack on nearby residential areas with mutated plants, injuring several residents!
Batman's body jolted, and he immediately stood up straight.
Although his movements were still unsteady, he had already regained his fighting stance.
He bent down to pick up the batarang from the ground, stuffed it into the equipment bag at his waist, then turned and walked toward the edge of the rooftop.
"I'll go." Batman's voice was still hoarse, but it carried an undeniable determination.
"I'll go with you."
Li Wei immediately spoke, while taking out a walkie-talkie.
"Robin, take the officers and head to the outskirts of the botanical garden immediately."
Evacuate the residents, establish a defensive line, and do not approach the mutated plants easily. Batman and I will be there shortly.
"receive!"
Robin's voice came through.
Batman did not refuse Levi's request to accompany him; he simply nodded and then leaped off the roof.
The black cloak unfurled in the night wind, like a wounded but still tenacious bat, disappearing into the darkness.
Li Wei took a deep breath, suppressing his physical exhaustion and mental helplessness, and then jumped off the roof.
Using the pipes and ropes between the buildings, move quickly towards the botanical garden.
He knew the battle was not over, the darkness had not yet dissipated, and he had to continue to hold his ground.
Join Batman and Robin to protect this scarred city until the light returns.
From the direction of the botanical garden, a strange green light can already be seen.
That was the light emanating from Poison Ivy's mutated plant, carrying an unsettling aura.
The citizens along the way were once again gripped by panic. Some fled frantically with their luggage, while others cried out for their families.
Some people hid behind their windows, watching in horror as the green plants spread from afar.
Li Wei's eyes hardened; he knew the battle to come would still be difficult.
But he would not back down, because he knew in his heart that as long as they did not give up, as long as they were still fighting, there was still hope for Gotham.
He quickened his pace, his figure quickly disappearing into the darkness as he sped toward the new battlefield.
The city behind them gradually fell asleep, with only a few scattered lights flickering in the darkness, as if cheering them on.
The battle against darkness is far from over, but Li Wei is ready.
No matter the cost, he will stand firm until Gotham returns to peace.